CH 87

In the Zhou family, Zhulan didn’t know that Wang Ru regretted so much that her intestines were green. She was helping her daughter-in-law during her confinement (1) and felt the magic of life. Babies in confinement change rapidly. The eyes and eyebrows became clearer. Seventy percent followed the Zhao family. Every time Zhulan looked at her little grandson, she would repeat and urge Zhou Shuren to make progress. In ancient times, not only beautiful women were dangerous, but handsome men were also in the same danger zone.

With a child in the family, life goes by faster. In the blink of an eye, it is the end of the last month of the lunar year. The month with the lowest temperature in the whole year, and Zhulan doesn’t want to get out of bed in the morning.

In the winter, Zhulan became lazier and was inseparable from the warm bed every morning.

“Mother, Dad is back.”

Zhulan sat up all of a sudden, put on her padded jacket and shoes, ran out quickly, pushed open the door, and saw that Zhou Shuren had just gotten off the carriage. Zhulan’s eyes instantly turned red, like a heart that had flown away had returned, making her feel particularly grounded, “You are back.”

Zhou Shuren stepped forward quickly, his body was faster than his brain’s reaction, and hugged Zhulan, “I’m back.”

At this moment, the wandering heart returned to its place, it’s good to be home. It’s good to have someone who cared about him at home, and it’s good that he wasn’t living alone in a strange time and space.

Zhulan blushed, and Zhou Shuren hugged her too tightly, “You want to strangle me?”

Zhou Shuren chuckled and loosened his grip. He realized that Zhulan was not joking and was genuinely concerned. He turned his head and said to his sons, “Bring all the luggage from the carriage into the hall.”

Zhulan was attracted by the full boxes behind the carriage, her eyes were bright, and this was the rhythm of getting rich!

Li shi came over, “Father, where is my dad?”

Zhou Shuren said, “Your dad went home first.”

Li Shi wanted to return to her parent’s home. She was thinking about the inheritance her grandmother had mentioned, but as she looked at the unloaded boxes, she knew that her father-in-law had bought many valuable items. She didn’t want her second brother-in-law’s family to take advantage of the situation. “Mother, I’ll go and help.”

Zhulan waved her hand, Li shi’s little calculation was too obvious, “Go!”

After all the boxes were moved to the hall of the main room, Wu Chun, Zhulan’s eldest nephew, left with the escort’s carriage. Zheng shi entered the yard and stared at the main room, ignoring Zhou Shuren, “Sister-in-law, your family is also rich?”

Zhulan looked at the people watching outside, and lied without changing her face, “My father was looking for the head of the house, and he came back with the eldest nephew early this morning. What kind of fortune did he make? These are the new year’s goods bought by the elder nephew’s darts, and they were sent to my house in advance. The New Year gift from my natal family.”

Zheng shi frowned and felt that Yang was not telling the truth. However, the Zhou family rarely went out in winter, and it was difficult for her to inquire about the news. Summoning up courage, she said cheekily: “What good things did you get? Let us also broaden our horizons.”

Unlike the original host, Zhulan didn’t hold back and chuckled. “I’m afraid that my younger siblings will become envious if they see it. It’s better for the sake of their eyes that they don’t look. Alright, let’s not make a fuss in this freezing weather. Second Brother, please close the door quickly.”

Zheng was very angry, isn’t this a way to call her shallow eyelids? The door closed with a bang, and Zheng shi’s face turned blue with anger.

The gate cut off the line of sight, and all the spectators left. No one noticed that Zhou Shuren had disappeared for almost three months. Zhulan said that no one doubted that Zhou Shuren went to the Yang family. He seldom went out, especially in winter, he basically didn’t leave the door.

Zhulan’s family, except for Rong Chuan and Zhao shi, went to the main hall, and four boxes were placed in the middle of the hall.

After drinking some hot water to calm himself down, Zhou Shuren took out the keys and instructed his third son to open the boxes. Zhou Changlian, filled with curiosity, took the keys and opened one of the boxes, only to be left dumbfounded. His words came out somewhat stuttering, “Father, what have you done? How much silver did this cost?”

T/N A word in this matter. This is again where I find similarity between Chinese and Indian culture. One change though, in most parts of India, it is common for the woman to go to her natal family to have their child and stay there for at least two months or so before coming back to her in-laws. This was a great help for women who lived in joint family where generations lived together as when she went to natal family, she could rest more compared to her in-law’s house. Of course, it depended totally on the socio-economic condition of the natal family.

Speaking from my own situation, I had both my sons at my parent’s home. My in-laws came time to time to see me and their grandson. In my first child’s time, my parents hired a helper whose job was to bath the child, wash his cloth diapers and other clothes and also massage me. It was such a pampering time. But when I had my second child, my mother was more proficient and she handled most of these jobs, except my massage. I hired a masseur from time to time for that. Overall, this confinement period is the best time for new mothers. Oh, in Hindu Bengali culture, the first month after birth, the woman is supposed to stay in a special room called “Atur ghar” or the “birthing room”. She is not supposed to work and only few people could enter this room. I guess it was done to eliminate exposing the newborn to diseases and infections. Another ceremony that is done six days after birth is called “sutikasasthi”. Guests are invited and music is played with everyone enjoying the feast. A inkstand and pen is kept near the head of the newborn because it is believed that the God of destiny writes the destiny of the child on this day. However, with urbanization and nuclear family, most of this rituals are not done anymore, except in rural areas and very religious family. Oh, another fun fact, the mother is not supposed to have a full bath or wash her hair during this time!! All she can do is wipe herself. My grandmother (mother’s mother) had her second son during the hottest month of the year and it was hell in this one month! Thank god this is not followed now!